Dust cap



R. P. BYAM.-

DUST CAP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25. 1921.

Patented hiov., 2l, i922.

PAT-lith??? RCHARD l. BYAIY, OF ORT GAMBLE, WASHINGTON.

DUST CAP.

application inea June 25,

being ordinarily termed a dust cap,

The. principal object of my present invention 1s tc provide a closure or dust cap for pneumatic tire valve stems and the like which will surely close olf the valve contained therein and prevent leakage therefrom irrespective of the closure afforded by such valve.

Another important object is to provide a dust cap having the above object in View which may be quickly positioned upon the valve stem and which will be forcefully clamped and securely held thereon.

it. further object is the provision in such a dust cap of means for leasily adjusting the valve closure proper into positions to lit upon valve stems of widely varying lengths.

My invention comprises those novel parts and combinations thereof which arev shown in the accompanying' drawings, described in the specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims terminating the same.

ln. the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in forms of construction which are now preferred by me. 4

Figure l is an axial sectional view through my present most preferred form of dust cap.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a `fragmentary side elevation of a portion thereof, a part being shown in section.

Figure l is an axial sectional view ofr a modified form.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevation of a detail of the modified form, parts being broken away.

lt often occurs in pneumatic tire valve stems, particularly after a period of use, that the self-contained valve will not hold the pressure within the tire and will permit leakage therefrom'. This may be 1921. serial no. 480,360'.

avoided by applying a cap directly to the outer end of the valve stem, thecap having a compressible member of leather or rubber inserted therein and applied with sufficient force to holdl the internal pressure. ft is often inconvenient kto employ a spring to hold this cap in place with the required" pressure and it is also diiiicult to provide a dust cap having a'spring-held cap which is adapted to fit upon stems of varying lengths withoutthe necessity for considerable adjustment with a screw driver or other tool. .My deviceis designed to clamp and lock a closure cap upon the end of the valve stem directly and without dependence upon spring pressure, to thread it in place thereon without rotary motion of' the cap relative to the valve stem, and lto adjust it for length without employing` any tool.

These results are accomplished by providing a sleevel having threads which are internal, preferably, and which extend in one direction, with which threads are engaged similar threads upon the closure cap, and the sleeve being arranged to be secured upon the valve stem by rotation opposite to the direction of the above threads. The closure cap in such an arrangement would be provided with means engageable preferably with the valve stem for preventing rotation thereof relative to the valve stem. lf the closure cap is threaded left-handedly in the sleeve and the sleeve is secured by right-handed rotation upon the valve stem', turning right-handedly upon the sleeve to secure it upon the valve stem would cause movement of the 'closure cap within the sleeve towards the end of the valve stem. lf the rotary motion of the sleeve is continued the cap will eventually be clamped securely in place upon the end of the valve stem. Obviously it is unimportant whether the interengaging threads uponthe sleeve and cap are left-handed and the sleeve engageable upon the stem by right-handed rotation, or vice versa. lt is important only that the threads be directed oppositely to the direction in which the sleeve is rotated to secure it upon the stem.

l have shown two arrangements embodying the principle described above. In the preferred form illustrated in Figures l, 2, and 3, the sleeve l is provided with internal left-hand threads l0. rlhe outer end' l1 of the sleeve l may or may not be closed over, although l prefer that it be closed,

for obvious reasons. At its open end, or that end which is closest the inner end of the valve stem 2, l provide means, to be later described in detail, whereby the sleeve 1 may be secured upon the stem 2 by righthand rotation.

lWithin the sleeve 1 and threaded at 30 to engage the left hand threads 10, is a closure cap 3 having a compressible member 31, which may be of rubber or leather, incor porated therein in position to seat upon the outer end of the valve stem 2. The cap 3 -has also a pair of opposite inwardly eX- tending flattened lugs 32 which are adapted to engage correspondingly flattened portions commonly provided upon the valve stems now in use, thus to prevent rotation of the cap relative to the stem. Other suitable means may be employed tor this purpose.

The open end loil: the sleeve 1 may be secured directly or indirectly to the valve stem 2 in several different ways, two of which are illustrated. The form which l now prefer is shown in Figures 1 and 3. A nut 4 is threaded upon the valve stem 2 and remains thereon permanently. To all intents and purposes it becomes a part of the valve stem. ring 5 is swiveled in a sleeve 12 which forms an extension of the sleeve 1, or the 0sleeve 12 may be rotatable upon the sleeve 1, to permit rotation 0f the ring o relative to the threaded sleeve 1. The ring 5 and sleeve 12, however, should be sufficiently closely litted that they will turn together unless some little resistance is encountered. This ring 5 and the nut 4 are provided with interengaging means, such as the bayonet lugs 41 and the bayonet slots 51, whereby they may be secured together by relative rotation in one direction. preier that they .be secured by relative right-hand rotation.

In order to prevent accidental reverse rotation of the sleeves 1 and 1.2 upon the nut 4 l provide a shoulder 52 at the inner end of the lateral portion of the bayonet slot 51, this shoulder 52 being engageable by the lug 41. A spring, shown herein. as the spring washer 53, is interposed between the upper end of the nut 4 and the lower end of the sleeve 1, the sleeve 1 being preferably rotatably mounted within the extension sleeve 12. This spring serves to project the sleeve 1 and associated parts outward t'rom the nut 4 which is secured upon the valve stem 2, and in this manner serves to maintain the bayonet lugs 41 in engagement with the shoulders 52. Frictional action between the sleeves 12 and 1, caused by the spring 53, and the normal frictional action between sleeve 12 and ring 5, assisted by the pressure caused by seating of the member 31. prevents reverse rotation ot the sleeve 1 and maintains the sleeve locked upon the nut 4 until it is pushed inward in opposition to the spring 53. l/Vhen the cap 3 has been seated upon the end of the stem 2, this holds I the sleeve 1 projected from the nut, and the lug 41 may not be disengaged from the shoulder 52. If the cap becomes unseated accidentally, the sleeve is held in place upon the nut 4 by the action ol the spring 53.

The device is lattached to the valve stem after the nut 4 has been secured thereon by placing the open end of the extension sleeve 12 over the valve stem 2 and sliding the sleeves 12 and 1 thereover axially, the flattened portions 32 of the closure cap 2 being first engaged with the flat sides ot the stem 2. The bayonet slots 51 are engaged with the lugs 41, and by right-hand rotation of the sleeves 1 and 12 and the ring 5, the sleeves are secured in place upon the nut. Continued rotation of the sleeve 1 serves to advance the closure cap 3 towards the end oit the valve stem 2, the cap being held `from rotation by the engagement of its lugs 32 with the flattened portion of the valve stem. The compressible member 31 seats upon the end of the valve stem and is compressed thereon. The lugs 41 by this time have been engaged with their respective shoulders 52 and are held in position by the pressure of the spring 53, assisted by the action of the closure cap 3 after this has been seated.

To remove the dust cap from the stem it is only necessary to rotate the sleeve 1 reversely or left-handedly, whereupon the closure cap 3 is unseated from the valve stem 2. The sleeves 1 and 12 may be then advanced slightly towards the inner end of the valve stem t0 disengage the shoulders 52 from the lugs 1, whereupon continued reverse rotation of the sleeve 1 will disengage the lugs 41 from the bayonet slot 51 and the entire device may be withdrawn axially from the valve stem 2. rlhe closure cap by this operation is left in position within the sleeve 1 so that it may be quickly replaced upon the valve stem by a few turns of the sleeve.

In the form shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the closure cap 3 is threaded within an eX- tra sleeve 6, both the cap and the sleeve 6 being threaded left-handedly. The sleeve 3 is in all respects similar to the sleeve described in connection with the` preferred form. The sleeve 6, however', is engaged with the outer sleeve 1 to prevent relative rotation. therebetween but to permit relative axial movement, as is indicated at (S1. rlhe sleeve 6 is further vprovided with a flange 62 between which and the end 11 elf the outer sleeve 1 is positioned a. spring 68, which maintains the sleeve 6 yieldingly projected towards the open end of the sleeve i Y Such a device as this is applicable to valve stems which vary greatly in length without adjustment.

l have also shown in connection with the modified form a modified form of' lock to secure the sleeve upon the valve stem. The nut 4 in this instance is externally 'threaded as shown at 42. Secured Within the open end or" the sleeve l and'held therein by suitable means, such as the inwardly turned flange lll, is the ring 5 Which is internally right-handedly threaded and adapted to screw upon the threads l2 of the nut. To maintain the ring 5 and the sleeve l relatively iixedv to permit turning el! the ring by the sleeve, l provide interengaging teeth l5 and 54; upon the sleeve and ring, respectively. These teeth are normally held in engagement by a split spring Washer ring 55, preferably positioned beneath the ring and between the ring and the llange la. rlhe ring is provided with a shoulder 56 facing left-handedly and the flange le is provided with an oppositely facing shoulder i6. These shoulders areadapted to engage the ends of the spring Washer ring 52 to permit reverse or lett-handed movement ot the ring 5 through the sleeve l. The manner ot' attachment and use of this 'form of the device is similar in all respects to that described above.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A closure for pneumatic tire valve stems comprising a sleeve adapted to be secured upon and rotatable relative to a stem, and a cap therein movable by such rotation of the sleeve axially thereof to be clamped upon the end of the valve stem.

2. A closure for pneumatic tire valve stems comprising a sleeve adapted to be secured upon and rotatable relative to a stem, a cap therein movable by such rotation oit the sleeve axially thereof to be clamped upon the end of the valve stem, and yieldable, positively-acting locking means tor securing said sleeve upon the stem.

In combination with a pneumatic tire valve stem, a closure therefor including a sleeve adapted to be secured upon the valve stem by rotation, and a cap therein and engageable with the stem to prevent relative rotation between cap and stem, said cap being axially movable by rotation of the sleeve to be clamped upon the end of the valve stem.

l. A. closure for pneumatic tire valve stems comprising a sleeve adapted to be se cured upon a valve stem by rotation, a cap therein axially movable by suc-h rotation to be clamped upon the end of the valve stem, and means for locking the sleeve upon the stem against reverse rotation, said means being automatically interengageable between said sleeve and stem by advance rotation.

A closure for pneumatic tire valve stems comprising' a sleeve adapted to be secured upon a valve stem by rotation, and a cap threaded therein and having means engageable with the stem ior preventing rotary motion relative thereto.

6. ln combination with a valve stem having axially extending llattened surfaces, a closure vtherefor including a sleeve adapted. to be secured thereon by relative righthanded rotation, and a cap lett-handedly threadedL in said sleeve and having lugs engageable with the flattened surfaces to prevent rotation of the cap relative to the stem.

7. il closure tor pneumatic tire valve stems comprising a sleeve the lovver portion of which is adapted to be secured upon a valve stein by rotation in one direction, oppositely-directed threads in the upper portion el ,c id sleeve, and a can ha. tf thimrds engageable' with the threads in the upper portion of the sleeve, and movable by rotation of the sleeve axially thereoi2 to be clamped upon the end of the valve stem.

8. A closure for pneumatic tire valve stems comprising a sleeve having means in its lower portion adapted by rotation in one direction to be secured upon a valve stem, threads in its upper portion which are oppositely-directed, a cap having threads engageable with those on the sleeve, and movable by rotation of the sleeve axially thereor" to be clamped upon the end of the valve stem, said securing means being swiveled in the sleeve to permit relative rotation between itself and the threaded portion of the sleeve.

9. A closure for pneumatic tire valve stems comprising a-sleeve having left-hand threads, a ring` rotatably mounted in said sleeve and having means adapted by righthanded rotation to be secured upon a valve stem, and a cap having left hand threads engageable With those on the sleeve, and movable by rotation of the sleeve axially thereof to be clamped upon the end of the valve stem.

l0. A closure for pneumatic tire valve stems comprising a sleeve having left-hand threads, a ring rotatably mounted in said sleeve and having means adapted by righthanded rotation to be secured upon a valve stem, and a cap having left-hand threads engageable with those on the sleeve, and movable by rotation of the sleeve axially thereof to be clamped upon the end of the valve stem, and means for locking said sleeve upon the valve stem.

ll. A closure for pneumatictire valve stems comprising' a sleeve having internal left-hapd threads in its upper portion, a ring rotatably secured in the lower portions of said sleeve, said ring and the valve stem having interengaging bayonet slots and lugs adapted to secure the ring upon a valve stem by rotation of the ring right-handedly relative to the stem, and a cap having external. left-hand threads engageable with those on the sleeve, and having means engageable with the stem to prevent rotation relative thereto, and movable axially Within the Sleevel by right-handed rotation thereo-i to be clamped upon the end of *l l l2, ln combination with a valve stem, a nut adapted to be fixed thereon, a sleeve having n'ieans Connected therewith whereby it may be eeonred by rotation in one direi:- tion to said nut, a closure Cap axially rnovable Within said sleeve by such rotation to clamp upon the end of the valve Stein, and means Carried by said Sleeve and nut, and interengageable by relative axial movement therebetween to lock the sleeve upon said nut.

13. ln combination with a valve stern, a nut adapted to be fixed thereon, a sleeve having means eonneotedthereivith whereby ,it inay be seeured by rotation in one direction to said nut, a closure cap axially Inovable Within said sleeve by such rotation to ela-nip upon the end of the valve stein, and means carried by said sleeve and nut, and interengag'eable by relative axial movetne valve stein.

nient therebetween to look the sleeve upon said nut, and yielding rneans interposed between the nut and the Sleeve for maintaining/them in locked position.` f

le. ln'eonfibination Withga valve stenn'a nut adapted to be iixed thereon, a sleeve,

said sleeve and the nut having interengageu ing bayonet slots and ings whereby they niay be Secured together by relative rotation in one direction, a closure cap axially mov' able Within said sleeve by such rotation to clamp upon the lend ofthe valve stem, Vthe Signed at Panlsbo, Kitsap County, Nash-y iifigton, this 17th day of Jnne,l92l.l

RICHARD P. BYAM. 

